CLASS ACT PRUITT GETS HIS ACADEMICS IN ORDER AND REJOINS TROJANS.

Byline: MATTHEW KREDELL Staff Writer

Gabe Pruitt looked at the computer screen and lost his trademark grin.

His spring semester grades were in, and he hadn't met the standards required to continue playing basketball for USC.

He was shocked. Maybe he was in a state of denial, but he wasn't anticipating any trouble.

``I didn't know I was borderline,'' said Pruitt, USC's point guard and an NBA prospect. ``A person should always be on top of his work. Maybe I kind of coasted a bit and didn't check in like I was supposed to with teachers.''

Pruitt, who was forced to sit out the Trojans' first 11 games this season because he was ineligible, is expected to return to the court to play his first game today against Kansas State at the Las Vegas Classic.

``I felt like I let the team and coaches down,'' Pruitt said. ``It was my doing. No one can make you do your work. Me loving basketball so much, I should never have let it get to the point where I had to pass a class to play. I take full responsibility for allowing it to get to that point.''

Pruitt enters the season as the Pacific-10 Conference's second-highest returning scorer at 16.9 points per game, and is potentially a first-round NBA draft pick if he has a strong junior season.

But instead of impressing NBA scouts with his shooting range and quick hands on the defensive end, Pruitt has spent USC's first 11games watching in street clothes on the far end of the bench.

``I almost blew a good opportunity,'' Pruitt said. ``I was down on myself. I felt to make up for that I had to show I could get work done and get back on the floor.''

For the first time in his life, Pruitt focused on something other than basketball. He wasn't even allowed to practice with the team until two weeks ago because coach Tim Floyd wanted him to concentrate on academics.

``I have a new approach to things,'' Pruitt said. ``It was not a good feeling for me to sit out like this. I will do everything in my power not to let it get back to this situation, and to take care of business from the start.''

When his ineligibility became known, Pruitt apologized to his teammates and coaches.

His grades came out near the same time that starting point guard Ryan Francis was shot and killed during a trip back home to Louisiana for Mother's Day.

Pruitt, the team's other starting guard, who had played some point in the past, was expected to take over much of the ballhandling duties.

Without Pruitt and Francis, the Trojans could have gotten off to a disastrous start. However, Daniel Hackett -- a recruit who wasn't expected to beging playing at USC until the 2007-08 season -- graduated high school a year early and has been impressive at the position.

USC is 9-2 and is getting Pruitt back at a good time, with two potentially tough games this weekend in Las Vegas before beginning conference play.

The team's most experienced ballhandler, Pruitt could help USC cut down on its conference-worst 19.1 turnovers per game.

``It's what's keeping us from being a very good team,'' Floyd said of the turnovers. ``A lot of it is youth. A lot of it is young guys who don't value every possession.''

Floyd said he sees Pruitt as a point guard on this team but doesn't plan on starting him today. He will have to work his way back into the mix.

``We're hoping he'll settle us down,'' Floyd said. ``We know he'll be able to make shots. We know that. We're hoping he'll be able to get us into the offense, but he's got to demonstrate that he can do that.''

Playing more at the point should help Pruitt. It's the position he's most likely to play if he reaches the NBA.

Pruitt and Nick Young were the leaders of top City Section teams in high school, with Pruitt on Westchester and Young at Cleveland of Reseda. They came to USC in the same recruiting class and both started as freshmen.

Without Pruitt feeding him the ball and taking some of the attention from defenders, Young has seemed out of sorts at times this season -- like he was missing his partner. His scoring is down 1.2 points from his sophomore year.

``Having him out there is going to make a big difference,'' Young said of Pruitt. ``He knows how to get me the ball, where I like it. It's going to take a lot of pressure off me.''

Pruitt said the past six months will help him in the future, not only in academics but in basketball and life as well. Floyd sat him down and explained that someone who takes an assignment off is the same type of person who will take a play off. And that sort of mentality will affect him in all stages of life.

``If I ever catch myself coasting or falling behind in anything,'' Pruitt said, ``I will always think of this experience.''

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CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) After missing USC's first 11 games because he was academically ineligible, Gabe Pruitt returns tonight.

(2) USC guard Gabe Pruitt averaged 16.9 points per game for the Trojans. He is considered a possible NBA draft pick.

Edna T. Simspon/Daily News

Box:

USC vs. KANSAS STATE

- Matthew Kredell